Living costs

Cardiff is one of the most affordable cities in the UK. See how far your money goes by using our simple living costs calculator.

The information on this page is in the process of being updated. The international (outside EU) living costs shown are for 2017/18. The UK/EU living costs are for 2015/16 and should be used for guidance only. Additionally our University Residence pages contain prices for 2016/17 on the respective page for each residence and again should be used for guidance only.

Level of study

Nationality

Accommodation

Currency

Estimated living costs for UK/EU undergraduate in University accommodation

Item

Per week

Per month

Per year (271 days)

Rent (including bills)

87.82

381.86

3400.00

Food

33.00

143.49

1277.57

Books and copying

8.75

38.05

338.75

Social

30.00

130.44

1161.43

Clothes

7.50

32.61

290.36

Laundry and toiletries

5.00

21.74

193.57

Travel

9.00

39.13

348.43

Telephone/mobile and TV licence (assuming a TV licence for each bedroom is bought)

8.50

36.96

329.07

Total

189.57

824.29

7339.18

Estimated living costs for UK/EU undergraduates in private accommodation

Item

Per week

Per month

Per year (271 days)

Rent

65.00

282.63

2516.43

Bills

12.50

54.35

483.93

Food

33.00

143.49

1277.57

Books and copying

8.75

38.05

338.75

Social

30.00

130.44

1161.43

Clothes

7.50

32.61

290.36

Laundry and toiletries (as no laundrette costs in houses)

3.75

16.31

145.18

Travel

9.00

39.13

348.43

Telephone/mobile and TV licence (assuming one TV licence for the house is paid for)

5.00

21.74

193.57

Total

174.50

758.75

6755.64

Estimated living costs for undergraduates from outside the UK/EU in University accommodation

Item

Per month

Per year (271 days)

Rent (including bills)

499

4,710

Food

124

1,116

Books - start of term costs

36

328

Social

141

1,275

Clothes

39

351

Laundry and toiletries

32

293

Travel

50

455

Mobile

24

220

Total

947

8,749

Estimated living costs for undergraduates from outside the UK/EU in private accommodation

Item

Per month

Per year (271 days)

Rent

303

2,741

Bills - TV, Internet, Gas, Electric and Water

81

731

Food

124

1,116

Books - start of term costs

36

328

Social

141

1,275

Clothes

39

351

Laundry and toiletries

32

293

Travel

50

455

Telephone/mobile

24

220

Total

831

7,511

Estimated living costs for UK/EU postgraduates living in University accommodation

Item

Per month

Per year (359 days)

Rent (including bills)

434.70

5201.91

Food

120

1159.88

Books - start of term costs

80

320

Social

128

1529.34

Clothes

27.33

327.91

Laundry and toiletries

26.10

312.33

Travel

40.50

484.65

Mobile phone

20

236.94

Total

703.24

9572.96

Estimated living costs for UK/EU postgraduates living in private accommodation

Item

Per month

Per year (359 days)

Rent

297.54

3561.28

Bills - gas, water, electric, TV, internet

71.10

850.83

Food

120

1159.88

Books - start of term costs

80

320

Social

128

1529.34

Clothes

27.33

327.91

Laundry and toiletries (as no laundrette costs in houses)

26.10

312.33

Travel

40.50

484.65

Mobile phone

20

236.94

Total

703.24

8783.16

Estimated living costs for postgraduates from outside the EU living in University accommodation

Item

Per month

Per year (359 days)

Rent (including bills)

521

6,239

Food

100

1,193

Books - start of term costs

27

329

Social

132

1,575

Clothes

39

468

Laundry and toiletries

33

391

Travel

50

604

Mobile

24

292

Total

927

11,092

Estimated living costs for postgraduates from outside the EU living in private accommodation

Item

Per month

Per year (359 days)

Rent

305

3,655

Bills - TV, internet, gas, electric, water

81

975

Food

100

1,193

Books - start of term costs

27

329

Social

132

1,575

Clothes

39

468

Laundry and toiletries

33

391

Travel

50

604

Mobile

24

292

Total

792

9,482

Important legal information

This tool is intended to give you an example of living cost for a student at University. Actual living costs will vary from student to student.

Please note: all living costs quoted are reasonable estimates but should not be relied upon. It is your responsibility to ensure you have sufficient funds to meet living costs while studying at the University.

Please note that these figures represent the average cost of living in Cardiff. Students who are on a budget can live on less if they wish to do so.

International students

The minimum cost of living as recommended by UKVI for studying outside London is £1,015 per month. To pass the maintenance test for your Tier 4 student visa, you will have to show you have money for the cost of your first year tuition fees and living costs of £9,135.

Study

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